The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-12-17
rha Annexation Question-piscussine

The Annexation Question-Discussing
It in the .City-The Plans Proposed, &c.
meeting of prominent business men was held
in the City Hall, Baltimore, on Saturday after
noon last, to consider the question OF annexing
the Belt. Mayor Latrobe, who presided, stated
that the legislature met on the first Monday IN
January, and one of the most important measures
to be brought before that body was the question
of the extension of the city limits. The limits Of
the city have not been extended since the year
1915, and during period of seventy-two years
the city has not grown in territory, but the tilA
has now come for the extension OF the c1tys -
years ago bill was prepared for the extension OF
the city, and two or four years before that bill
had been prepared by City Solicitor Findlay, but
for some reason the bills were allowed to fall
through. Of course, some of our Belt friends OPP
posed the annexation, and that probably has
caused the defeat of the measure. During Mayor
Vansant's term bill was passed by the legisla-
ture to extend the city two miles in every direc-
ton except southwark. It was submitted to
vote of the people in the district interested, but
was defeated. Since that time, however, change
has taken place in the minds of many of the people
of the Belt, and a large number of those who
voted against annexation before, are now favor
able to the scheme. We owe it not only to our
selves but also to our friends of the Belt, to give
them another chance. The object of this meeting
is to confer together and devise the best means to
present the question to the people of the Belt for
their consideration. would recommend the Boston
plan, whereby the Belt would be divided into Sec
tions districts, and allow each district to vote
as to whether it shall be included in the confines
of the city or not Those districts which want to
come into the city could do SO by their votes, and
those which wish to stay out could likewise express
their wish.
MR. CARTER EXPLAINS THE BILLS.
City Solicitor Carter explained the details of the
two bills which were before the legislature four
years ago. One was prepared by himself, and the
other by the Citizens Association of the Belt
Mr.. Carter stated that his bill provided that the
Belt be divided into three sections, the citizens
of each section to vote separately upoasth ques-
ton whether or not their sectionsa district was to
be annexetS s".5h lection Was to vote on -
same day. In regard to taxation, the bill pro.
vded that until the year 1895 the rate of taxation
should be one-half of the rate fixed on as the rate
for city purposes. After that time all included
within the city limits would pay alike. The en-
gne-houses, etc., were to be bought at fair price,
The bill of the Citizens Association of the Belt
in the main features, was the same as the other,
but the scheme of taxation was different. 1t pro-
vided that until 1900 the tax should not exceed
the existing tax rate in Baltimore county, nor
shall there be an increase in the assessment Of
property but new property shall be assessed at its
true VaIuatOn, anu pay 10 per cent. VI Iuo lax
rate. Till the year 1900 the expenditures were
not to exceed the revenue.
Mr.. Carter added that, under the present consti-
tuition, counties having $4,000 inhabitants are en-
titled to six representatives in the General Assem-
bly,, and each legislative district is entitled to
many delegates as the largest county, which is
Baltimore county. If, therefore, Baltimore coun-
ty after the annexation, should have less than 3d.,
600 inhabitants, it would be entitled to only FIVE
delegates, thus losing delegate, and each city
legislative district would also lose one, reducing
the city's number to fifteen.
Mr.. II. N. Bankard, of the West End Improve
ment Association, thought that the citizens bill
was impracticable, and would exclude that section
of the Belt which voted to be included within the
city limits when the vote was taken. He thought
the Belt should be divided into three or five sec
tions, and those that come in will serve as an en-
tering wedge.
Mr.. German H. Hunt said he did not altogether
agree with the boundaries as laid down in Mr..
Carters bill. 1t would be better if the northern
division were two miles north, and one mile east
and west. "My firm and the other manufacturing
establishments in the Belt will add nothing to
their success, or get any conveniences which they
do not already enjoy. But the population i'll the
Belt is becoming dense, and there sanitary and
other reasons which should impel all men to favor
the annexation. In dealing with the annexation
question, some arrangements should be made
whereby the sanitary condition and the police and
fire regulations should be improved. There is
considerable sickness in the Belt, and for that
reason think it our duty to look after the welfare
of the people who are in need, and make some
provision for their health and comfort. I am sat-
isfed with the provisions for taxation, and had it
not been for the unfortunate ntimation in regard
to the repeal of the ordinance exempting plant,
would have nothing more to say. This question
of annexation is going to be determined in Balti-
more county by votes, and think proper effort
should be made to prove to the people who own
email property that it is to their interest that they
come into the city, and they should receive as
much consideration as possible"
Mr.. VIM. B. Trundle, of the Madison Avenue
Protective Association, said he thought the pro-
visions of the citizens committee met the ideas of
the residents of the Belt. As the Belt provides
one-third of the taxes Of the county, much oppo-
sition may be expected from the county.
impossible to devise any bill which would 60
through the legislature without amendment, and
the best that could be done was to submit sensi-
BILE bill.
Mr.. Skipwith Wilmer said that the sentiment
expressed by Mr.. Hunt, who has large pecuniary
interests in the Belt and others, showed that the
people of the Belt favored annexation. The only
objection seemed to be the political feature of the
question, and the apprehension was expressed
that the reduction of the representation in the leg
islature might cause opposition, and this bench
cent measure might be defeated because of the ap-
prehension of certain political elements in the city,
and certain political elements in the county.
Mr.. Wilmer made motion that committee of
seven be appointed by the Mayor, to confer with
the City Solicitor, and cooperate with any COM
mittee from the City Council, to urge the legisla-
ture to pass bill for the annexation of the city.
The motion was carried. The following gentle
men were selected as the committee: Hon. John
v. L. Findlay, German II. Hunt, George White
lock, John L. Reed, Alexander Y. Dolfeld, Win
field ]. Taylor, Edward G. Kenly and David
Bachrach, Jr.
Belair's New Water Supply-Can the
pump Snake" be Utilized ?-For some time
the citizens of Belar have been considering the
advisability of introducing water into that town
by some artificial means, the present supply hav-
ing become impure and dangerous to the health
of the people. They have been casting about for
the best plan, but all of those suggested were in
some manner Questionable. Finally Brother
STREET., of the Democrat, having heard of the use
being made of the "pump snake" in the far West,
to overcome difficulties of this kind, threw out the
idea that it would be good thing to try this
new plan and accordingly wrote to a friend in